A Day off Work

Initially written on the 8th May.
Picked the right day to be off as the sun has shone brilliantly all day long. Took 'the small dog' out for a walk in the Dene and stupidly didn't take my binoculars with me. The birds were singing their hearts out and without trying I saw great spotted woodpecker, goldfinch, blackbird, blue and great tits, wood pigeons, robin, crow, collared dove, housesparrow, swift and housemartin and mistle thrush. I heard a chiff chaff and woodwarbler. The 'west' end of the dene is sorely neglected by the local authority as opposed to the 'east' end. Trial and mountain bikes have killed off all forms of vegetation, there is litter everywhere and the burn itself is blocked at one point with driftwood, bottles, old bike parts, and general rubbish. I intend to write to the council and ask them what they are planning to do about it. All councils have a duty to increase biodiversity and this is hardly achieving that. The Dene is a gem and should be given priority but as usual, the local authority seem to fail to see what's under their nose!